Hello ,,
As you look toward your upcoming events, the groundwork you lay now will determine both your performance and your enjoyment throughout the season. Smart preparation isn't about perfect planning, but about creating adaptable systems that support you through changing demands.
3 Insights on Recovery Patterns
I.
Plan for post-event recovery as carefully as the events themselves. Events and unusually demanding training blocks create disruption that extends beyond the actual day. When mapping your season, schedule generous recovery periods after key events and training camps. If you're planning a warm-weather training camp while it's still winter at home, prepare specifically for the return transition. We've seen athletes whose entire seasons were derailed not by the training camp itself, but by the psychological letdown and inappropriate training choices made immediately afterward. The framework of your season isn't just about when you push—it's equally about when and how you recover.
II.
Don't rush early-season progression just because enthusiasm is high. As weather improves in the northern hemisphere (or as southern hemisphere athletes move indoors), there's a natural tendency to accelerate training. Resist this urge. Your body adapts at its own pace regardless of your motivation level. Physiological adaptation requires appropriate stimulus followed by adequate recovery—neither of which can be rushed. Remember: you can't force your body to adapt; you can only provide the right stimulus, give it time, and create supportive conditions for adaptation. Patience now prevents setbacks later.
III.
Use seasonal transitions to establish supportive habits and identify progressive sessions. As daylight hours change and seasonal patterns shift, use this natural transition period strategically. First, implement small, sustainable habits like a 10-minute morning mobility routine or consistent evening recovery practices. Second, specifically identify which 1-2 sessions in your weekly routine will be the ones you'll extend or progress as conditions improve. For example, designate Tuesday's ride as your "extendable" session that grows with daylight, or mark Thursday's run as the one that will gradually incorporate more challenging terrain as weather permits. This targeted approach prevents the common mistake of trying to increase all sessions simultaneously, which often leads to overtraining. By identifying your "progressive sessions" now, you create a sustainable framework for growth throughout the season.
2 Questions For Your Reviews
I.
Looking at your three biggest training or racing priorities this season, have you specifically planned the week after each one? What routine will you return to, and what specific recovery activities will help you transition back to normal training?
II.
What one small habit (taking no more than 10 minutes daily) could you start this week that would address a limitation from your previous season? Consider sleep routines, nutrition timing, mobility work, or stress management practices.
1 Real-World Example
An extreme example of disruptive events is from when I was younger and had recently started cycling. A group of us from Edinburgh Road Club went on a training camp in Mallorca, Puerto Pollensa, which is a beautiful place for cycling and perhaps one of the best locations in the world for early season training.
We were there for two weeks and the first week went well but as fatigue set in, the group started to get grumpy and splits occurred, nothing serious but people were overdoing the training and recovery was hard when sharing accommodation in unusual circumstances.
In the second week, more people joined us and this diluted the vibe and the second week went well. Personally, it was a learning experience that participating in group training camps is better done with a slightly detached approach, curbing early enthusiasm to be part of everything and taking strategic recovery and/or solo training sessions.
When I got home the seasonal difference of Scotland in March compared to Mallorca was a stark jump back into reality and I found my motivation difficult to maintain and my routine slipped due to the weather and fatigue carried over from the camp.
However, one of the group, who had trained really well on the camp and was looking forward to a good season of road racing, gave up completely and hardly went out on his bike for the rest of the year. This is an extreme example but should be a reminder to think about both the quality of the training environment you will be in and the transition back to your normal routine. After the camp, I was talking to Sandy Wallace, who ran a local bike shop and sponsored a race team and he told me that they now run all their camps in Scotland as a consequence of this difficult transition.... I'm not sure I would want to miss out on the warm sunny Mallorca experience but he has a good point... be careful.
